relationships – Page 3 – The Dusty Jacket

The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright

The Wednesday Letters (Adult Fiction)

Jason F. Wright

Jack and Laurel have been married for 39 years and every Wednesday, Jack has written a letter to his beloved…starting on their wedding night and ending on the night of his death. When their children discover these letters, everything they thought they knew about their parents will be changed forever.

I found this to be two books in one. The first half is a love story told through weekly love letters, while the second half abruptly turns quite religious and spiritual—touching upon themes of redemption, faith, and forgiveness. While the story was laid out slowly and tenderly by Wright, I found the ending to be rushed and forced. The author’s desire to wrap up every loose end in a nice, pretty bow felt awkward and sloppy and didn’t provide the satisfying conclusion that the author perhaps intended.

Rating: 3/5

My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout

My Name is Lucy Barton

Elizabeth Strout (Adult Fiction)

Lucy Barton is a woman recovering from what should have been a simple operation. During her convalescence, her mother sits by her hospital bed and the two begin to idly gossip about hometown neighbors while languishing in their own shortcomings.

This book received mostly positive reviews and appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, although it’s hard for me to understand why. The story was forgettable, uninspiring, and left me with little to no lasting impression. Lucy and her mother are unsympathetic, and their constant self-pitying and self-loathing become quite tedious and tiresome.

Rating: 1/5